Happiness in Good Lives explores happiness as an important dimension of fully desirable lives. Happiness is defined as loving one’s life, valuing it in ways manifested by ample enjoyment ...
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Happiness in Good Lives explores happiness as an important dimension of fully desirable lives. Happiness is defined as loving one’s life, valuing it in ways manifested by ample enjoyment and a robust sense of meaning. As such, it interacts with all other dimensions of good lives, in particular with moral decency and goodness, authenticity, mental health, self-fulfillment, and meaningfulness. The book integrates philosophical issues with topics of broad human interest, and it includes chapters on how happiness connects with the virtues, love, philanthropy, suffering, simplicity, balancing work and leisure, and politics. Happiness is a moral value, as well as a self-interested value, which we have a responsibility as well as a right to pursue. Myriad specific virtues contribute to pursuing happiness, and in turn happiness contributes to or manifests an array of virtues such as love, self-respect, gratitude, and hope. Although happiness is by no means the entirety of good lives, it helps define some additional aspects of good lives, including authenticity, self-fulfillment, meaningfulness, and mental health. It also enters into understanding what it means to live a balanced life, and also a simple life centered on what matters most. The moral status of happiness is a central concern in the history of ethics. Recent “positive psychology” has breathed new life into traditional philosophical issues, and the book draws extensively on psychological studies. It also uses myriad examples from memoirs, novels, and films. One chapter is devoted to assessing the claim of Mary Shelley’s monster in Frankenstein: “Make me happy, and I shall again be virtuous.”Less

Happiness and the Good Life

Mike W. Martin

Published in print: 2012-05-01

Happiness in Good Lives explores happiness as an important dimension of fully desirable lives. Happiness is defined as loving one’s life, valuing it in ways manifested by ample enjoyment and a robust sense of meaning. As such, it interacts with all other dimensions of good lives, in particular with moral decency and goodness, authenticity, mental health, self-fulfillment, and meaningfulness. The book integrates philosophical issues with topics of broad human interest, and it includes chapters on how happiness connects with the virtues, love, philanthropy, suffering, simplicity, balancing work and leisure, and politics. Happiness is a moral value, as well as a self-interested value, which we have a responsibility as well as a right to pursue. Myriad specific virtues contribute to pursuing happiness, and in turn happiness contributes to or manifests an array of virtues such as love, self-respect, gratitude, and hope. Although happiness is by no means the entirety of good lives, it helps define some additional aspects of good lives, including authenticity, self-fulfillment, meaningfulness, and mental health. It also enters into understanding what it means to live a balanced life, and also a simple life centered on what matters most. The moral status of happiness is a central concern in the history of ethics. Recent “positive psychology” has breathed new life into traditional philosophical issues, and the book draws extensively on psychological studies. It also uses myriad examples from memoirs, novels, and films. One chapter is devoted to assessing the claim of Mary Shelley’s monster in Frankenstein: “Make me happy, and I shall again be virtuous.”

This book examines the importance of Christianity as an inspiration for political and social behaviour in the nineteenth century, and the forces that undermined both religion and charity in the ...
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This book examines the importance of Christianity as an inspiration for political and social behaviour in the nineteenth century, and the forces that undermined both religion and charity in the twentieth. The waning of religion and the growth of government responsibility for social provision were closely intertwined. The book shows how the creation of the modern British state undermined religious belief and customs of associational citizenship. Through a study of four areas of social provision – education, visiting, infant welfare, and nursing – it unravels the complex evolving relationship between voluntarism and the state, and poses a new interpretation of Christian decline and the development of democratic traditions in Britain.Less

Christianity and Social Service in Modern Britain : The Disinherited Spirit

Frank Prochaska

Published in print: 2008-04-17

This book examines the importance of Christianity as an inspiration for political and social behaviour in the nineteenth century, and the forces that undermined both religion and charity in the twentieth. The waning of religion and the growth of government responsibility for social provision were closely intertwined. The book shows how the creation of the modern British state undermined religious belief and customs of associational citizenship. Through a study of four areas of social provision – education, visiting, infant welfare, and nursing – it unravels the complex evolving relationship between voluntarism and the state, and poses a new interpretation of Christian decline and the development of democratic traditions in Britain.

The beginning of the modern historical period in the Land of Israel was marked by the European powers’ new interest in the region and by the Jews’ own changed attitudes toward the Land. Jews began ...
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The beginning of the modern historical period in the Land of Israel was marked by the European powers’ new interest in the region and by the Jews’ own changed attitudes toward the Land. Jews began settling the Land in increasing numbers, largely in anticipation of the Messiah’s expected appearance in 1840; settlement continued even after those expectations were dashed. The new motives for Aliya were spiritual and religious under the oppression of the governments in Europe. Thus, due to the expansion of the yishuv, Western philanthropists used their influence to modernize Jerusalem. Jerusalem expanded beyond the old city walls, laying the basis for what would become West Jerusalem. Ultimately, it was only thanks to the existence of a Jewish yishuv in the Land of Israel during the first half of the 19th century that masses of Jews in the Diaspora as well as the nations of the world became aware of the reality of the Land of Israel as a place in which the Jewish nation could settle in the future.Less

Epilogue : Emergence of a Jewish Majority in Jerusalem

Arie Morgenstern

Published in print: 2006-07-01

The beginning of the modern historical period in the Land of Israel was marked by the European powers’ new interest in the region and by the Jews’ own changed attitudes toward the Land. Jews began settling the Land in increasing numbers, largely in anticipation of the Messiah’s expected appearance in 1840; settlement continued even after those expectations were dashed. The new motives for Aliya were spiritual and religious under the oppression of the governments in Europe. Thus, due to the expansion of the yishuv, Western philanthropists used their influence to modernize Jerusalem. Jerusalem expanded beyond the old city walls, laying the basis for what would become West Jerusalem. Ultimately, it was only thanks to the existence of a Jewish yishuv in the Land of Israel during the first half of the 19th century that masses of Jews in the Diaspora as well as the nations of the world became aware of the reality of the Land of Israel as a place in which the Jewish nation could settle in the future.

This book takes an in-depth look at philanthropy as an underappreciated force in capitalism, measures its critical influence on the free-market system, and demonstrates how American philanthropy ...
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This book takes an in-depth look at philanthropy as an underappreciated force in capitalism, measures its critical influence on the free-market system, and demonstrates how American philanthropy could serve as a model for the productive reinvestment of wealth in other countries. Factoring in philanthropic cycles that help balance the economy, the book offers a richer picture of capitalism and a more accurate backdrop for considering policies that would promote the capitalist system for the good of all. Examining the dynamics of American-style capitalism since the eighteenth century, it argues that philanthropy achieves three critical outcomes. It deals with the question of what to do with wealth—keep it, tax it, or give it away. It complements government in creating public goods. And, by focusing on education, science, and medicine, philanthropy has a positive effect on economic growth and productivity. The book describes how individuals such as Benjamin Franklin, Andrew Carnegie, Bill Gates, and Oprah Winfrey have used their wealth to establish institutions and promote knowledge, and shows how philanthropy has given an edge to capitalism by promoting vital forces—like university research—necessary for technological innovation, economic equality, and economic security. Philanthropy also serves as a guide for countries with less flexible capitalist institutions, and the book makes the case for a larger, global philanthropic culture. Providing a new perspective on the development of capitalism, this book highlights philanthropy's critical links to the economic progress, health, and future of the United States—and beyond.Less

Why Philanthropy Matters : How the Wealthy Give, and What It Means for Our Economic Well-Being

Zoltan J. Acs

Published in print: 2013-02-24

This book takes an in-depth look at philanthropy as an underappreciated force in capitalism, measures its critical influence on the free-market system, and demonstrates how American philanthropy could serve as a model for the productive reinvestment of wealth in other countries. Factoring in philanthropic cycles that help balance the economy, the book offers a richer picture of capitalism and a more accurate backdrop for considering policies that would promote the capitalist system for the good of all. Examining the dynamics of American-style capitalism since the eighteenth century, it argues that philanthropy achieves three critical outcomes. It deals with the question of what to do with wealth—keep it, tax it, or give it away. It complements government in creating public goods. And, by focusing on education, science, and medicine, philanthropy has a positive effect on economic growth and productivity. The book describes how individuals such as Benjamin Franklin, Andrew Carnegie, Bill Gates, and Oprah Winfrey have used their wealth to establish institutions and promote knowledge, and shows how philanthropy has given an edge to capitalism by promoting vital forces—like university research—necessary for technological innovation, economic equality, and economic security. Philanthropy also serves as a guide for countries with less flexible capitalist institutions, and the book makes the case for a larger, global philanthropic culture. Providing a new perspective on the development of capitalism, this book highlights philanthropy's critical links to the economic progress, health, and future of the United States—and beyond.

This volume explores the political, cultural, and ecclesiastical forces that linked the metropolis of Byzantium to the margins of its far-flung empire. Focusing on the provincial region of Hellas and ...
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This volume explores the political, cultural, and ecclesiastical forces that linked the metropolis of Byzantium to the margins of its far-flung empire. Focusing on the provincial region of Hellas and Peloponnesos in central and southern Greece, the book shows how the prestige of Constantinople was reflected in the military, civilian, and ecclesiastical officials sent out to govern the provinces. It evokes the ideology and culture of the center by examining different aspects of the imperial court, including diplomacy, ceremony, intellectual life, and relations with the church. Particular topics treat the transmission of mathematical manuscripts, the burning of offensive material, and the church's role in distributing philanthropy. The book contrasts life in the capital with provincial life, tracing the adaptation of a largely rural population to rule by Constantinople from the early medieval period onward. The letters of Michael Choniates, archbishop of Athens from 1182 to 1205, offer a detailed account of how this highly educated cleric coped with life in an imperial backwater, and demonstrate a synthesis of ancient Greek culture and medieval Christianity that was characteristic of the Byzantine elite. The chapters draw together a significant body of scholarship on problems of empire. The book features a general introduction, two previously unpublished essays, and a concise introduction to each essay that describes how it came to be written and how it fits into the book's broader analysis of the unusual brilliance and longevity of Byzantium.Less

Margins and Metropolis : Authority across the Byzantine Empire

Judith Herrin

Published in print: 2013-04-07

This volume explores the political, cultural, and ecclesiastical forces that linked the metropolis of Byzantium to the margins of its far-flung empire. Focusing on the provincial region of Hellas and Peloponnesos in central and southern Greece, the book shows how the prestige of Constantinople was reflected in the military, civilian, and ecclesiastical officials sent out to govern the provinces. It evokes the ideology and culture of the center by examining different aspects of the imperial court, including diplomacy, ceremony, intellectual life, and relations with the church. Particular topics treat the transmission of mathematical manuscripts, the burning of offensive material, and the church's role in distributing philanthropy. The book contrasts life in the capital with provincial life, tracing the adaptation of a largely rural population to rule by Constantinople from the early medieval period onward. The letters of Michael Choniates, archbishop of Athens from 1182 to 1205, offer a detailed account of how this highly educated cleric coped with life in an imperial backwater, and demonstrate a synthesis of ancient Greek culture and medieval Christianity that was characteristic of the Byzantine elite. The chapters draw together a significant body of scholarship on problems of empire. The book features a general introduction, two previously unpublished essays, and a concise introduction to each essay that describes how it came to be written and how it fits into the book's broader analysis of the unusual brilliance and longevity of Byzantium.

This chapter discusses how an integrated, moral-therapeutic perspective on philanthropy emphasizes the confluence of self-interest, community service, and the virtues. Although all virtues contribute ...
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This chapter discusses how an integrated, moral-therapeutic perspective on philanthropy emphasizes the confluence of self-interest, community service, and the virtues. Although all virtues contribute to philanthropy, the chapter focuses on compassion, gratitude, hope, and justice. An integrated, moral-therapeutic perspective enables us to appreciate the confluence of morality and mental health in meaningful lives of service.Less

Community Service

Mike W. Martin

Published in print: 2006-05-25

This chapter discusses how an integrated, moral-therapeutic perspective on philanthropy emphasizes the confluence of self-interest, community service, and the virtues. Although all virtues contribute to philanthropy, the chapter focuses on compassion, gratitude, hope, and justice. An integrated, moral-therapeutic perspective enables us to appreciate the confluence of morality and mental health in meaningful lives of service.

The actual vitality of American Christianity’s cultural capital today resides almost exclusively among average people in the pew rather than those in leadership, on the periphery not the center of ...
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The actual vitality of American Christianity’s cultural capital today resides almost exclusively among average people in the pew rather than those in leadership, on the periphery not the center of cultural production, in tastes that run to the popular rather than the exceptional, the middle brow rather than the high brow, and almost always toward the practical as opposed to the theoretical or the imaginative. The collective impact of the Christian community of the nature and direction of the culture itself is negligible. They have been absent from the arenas in which the greatest influence in culture is exerted.Less

The Cultural Economy of American Christianity

James Davison Hunter

Published in print: 2010-03-17

The actual vitality of American Christianity’s cultural capital today resides almost exclusively among average people in the pew rather than those in leadership, on the periphery not the center of cultural production, in tastes that run to the popular rather than the exceptional, the middle brow rather than the high brow, and almost always toward the practical as opposed to the theoretical or the imaginative. The collective impact of the Christian community of the nature and direction of the culture itself is negligible. They have been absent from the arenas in which the greatest influence in culture is exerted.

Synopsis: This chapter examines Roman imperial pressure and the persecution that triggered wide‐ranging dispersion and movement in Christianity. Persecution induced habits of vigilance, and ascetic ...
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Synopsis: This chapter examines Roman imperial pressure and the persecution that triggered wide‐ranging dispersion and movement in Christianity. Persecution induced habits of vigilance, and ascetic witness against wealth and power. Tertullian (d c.240) describes the refining effects of persecution and repression on Christian spiritual life and new forms of Christian social organization. Christians pioneered voluntary and philanthropic ethics, and promoted mutual support and encouragement. As a vernacular movement Christianity spread to Scotland, northern England, and Iceland. Semi‐urban Arabs of the trade routes converted, though Christianity failed to take root in the Arab heartland proper. Augustine assessed the historical challenge facing Christianity after the fall of the empire, and his achievement, the chapter argues, transformed classical historiography from its deterministic pessimism into a choice‐driven, morally‐transparent enterprise. The chapter contends that a corresponding Augustinian revolution in thought would help place the searchlight on provincial diversity and cultural variety of rising World Christianity.Less

Whither Christianity? : A Study in Origin, Thought, and Action

Lamin Sanneh

Published in print: 2008-01-01

Synopsis: This chapter examines Roman imperial pressure and the persecution that triggered wide‐ranging dispersion and movement in Christianity. Persecution induced habits of vigilance, and ascetic witness against wealth and power. Tertullian (d c.240) describes the refining effects of persecution and repression on Christian spiritual life and new forms of Christian social organization. Christians pioneered voluntary and philanthropic ethics, and promoted mutual support and encouragement. As a vernacular movement Christianity spread to Scotland, northern England, and Iceland. Semi‐urban Arabs of the trade routes converted, though Christianity failed to take root in the Arab heartland proper. Augustine assessed the historical challenge facing Christianity after the fall of the empire, and his achievement, the chapter argues, transformed classical historiography from its deterministic pessimism into a choice‐driven, morally‐transparent enterprise. The chapter contends that a corresponding Augustinian revolution in thought would help place the searchlight on provincial diversity and cultural variety of rising World Christianity.

Persistent societal problems and wealth creation in the Arab region are driving a new generation of actors to commit their resources for the greater public welfare. Widely known as philanthropy, ...
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Persistent societal problems and wealth creation in the Arab region are driving a new generation of actors to commit their resources for the greater public welfare. Widely known as philanthropy, voluntary contributions to causes that serve a public good are a longstanding and important aspect of cultures in the Arab region. What is of particular interest today is the proliferation of ways in which this private giving is being channeled into new institutional forms. In significant ways, some local philanthropy is becoming more strategic in its aims—by which is meant utilizing resources effectively to address the underlying causes of important social problems. Through an examination of philanthropic trends in eight key Middle Eastern countries, this book seeks to shed light on the forms of institutionalized giving that currently exist, as well as to provide recommendations for how charitable contributions can be most effective as vehicles of future social change. Drawing on data collected from endowed corporate foundations, public–private partnerships between business leaders and governmental agencies, and small-scale community-based organizations, this study marks attempts to map the dynamic contemporary landscape of philanthropy in the Arab region.Less

From Charity to Social Change : Trends in Arab Philanthropy

Published in print: 2008-10-01

Persistent societal problems and wealth creation in the Arab region are driving a new generation of actors to commit their resources for the greater public welfare. Widely known as philanthropy, voluntary contributions to causes that serve a public good are a longstanding and important aspect of cultures in the Arab region. What is of particular interest today is the proliferation of ways in which this private giving is being channeled into new institutional forms. In significant ways, some local philanthropy is becoming more strategic in its aims—by which is meant utilizing resources effectively to address the underlying causes of important social problems. Through an examination of philanthropic trends in eight key Middle Eastern countries, this book seeks to shed light on the forms of institutionalized giving that currently exist, as well as to provide recommendations for how charitable contributions can be most effective as vehicles of future social change. Drawing on data collected from endowed corporate foundations, public–private partnerships between business leaders and governmental agencies, and small-scale community-based organizations, this study marks attempts to map the dynamic contemporary landscape of philanthropy in the Arab region.

This book provides the historical background to the rise of the Big Society, surveying the history of voluntarism over the last century. Politicians and commentators have long bemoaned the supposed ...
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This book provides the historical background to the rise of the Big Society, surveying the history of voluntarism over the last century. Politicians and commentators have long bemoaned the supposed decline of civic life, fretting about its health and its future. In fact, the real story of voluntarism over the last hundred years has not been decline, but constant evolution and change. Whether we use the terms charity, philanthropy, civil society, non-governmental organisations, the third sector or the Big Society, voluntary endeavour is one of the most vibrant and dynamic areas of British public life. The scholars featured in this collection show how the voluntary sector's role in society, and its relationship with the state, has constantly adapted to its surroundings. Volumtary groups have raised new agendas, tackled old problems in new ways, acted as alternatives to statutory provision and as catalysts for further government action. They have emerged out of citizens' concerns, independent of government, and yet have remained willing to work with politicians of all persuasions. By surveying the sheer extent and diversity of the sector since the start of the First World War, the book demonstrates that voluntarism not only continues to thrive, but is also far larger than any political agenda that may be imposed upon it.Less

The Ages of Voluntarism : How we got to the Big Society

Published in print: 2011-08-04

This book provides the historical background to the rise of the Big Society, surveying the history of voluntarism over the last century. Politicians and commentators have long bemoaned the supposed decline of civic life, fretting about its health and its future. In fact, the real story of voluntarism over the last hundred years has not been decline, but constant evolution and change. Whether we use the terms charity, philanthropy, civil society, non-governmental organisations, the third sector or the Big Society, voluntary endeavour is one of the most vibrant and dynamic areas of British public life. The scholars featured in this collection show how the voluntary sector's role in society, and its relationship with the state, has constantly adapted to its surroundings. Volumtary groups have raised new agendas, tackled old problems in new ways, acted as alternatives to statutory provision and as catalysts for further government action. They have emerged out of citizens' concerns, independent of government, and yet have remained willing to work with politicians of all persuasions. By surveying the sheer extent and diversity of the sector since the start of the First World War, the book demonstrates that voluntarism not only continues to thrive, but is also far larger than any political agenda that may be imposed upon it.

This book examines the lesser known aspects of the colonial state through the lens of the many famines and famine induced crimes which affected north India as it emerged from the ‘chaotic’ eighteenth ...
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This book examines the lesser known aspects of the colonial state through the lens of the many famines and famine induced crimes which affected north India as it emerged from the ‘chaotic’ eighteenth century. It situates the 1837-8 famine in the political, ideological and economic processes of the colonial state which, paradoxically, continued to advocate laissez faire even as it’s humanitarian and pragmatic concerns (including fears of disorder) resulted in a series of interventionist policies. In this it was aided by a growth in missionary activity, with institutions being created for ‘famine-orphans.’ The assumption of new responsibilities resulted in the expansion of the state’s infrastructure which helped it derive legitimacy by being perceived as the ultimate repository of philanthropy. By the 1880s, popular perception saw the responsibility for famine relief having shifted clearly to the colonial state. However, the author also argues that while the state was forced into actions mitigating the most disruptive aspects of famines, it did not feel obliged to address its real causes, i.e. the problems of structural mass poverty. By the end of the nineteenth century, this became a key element in the critique of colonialism by early Indian nationalists wanting freedom from colonial rule.Less

Famine, Philanthropy and the Colonial State : North India in the Early Nineteenth Century

Sanjay Sharma

Published in print: 2001-07-19

This book examines the lesser known aspects of the colonial state through the lens of the many famines and famine induced crimes which affected north India as it emerged from the ‘chaotic’ eighteenth century. It situates the 1837-8 famine in the political, ideological and economic processes of the colonial state which, paradoxically, continued to advocate laissez faire even as it’s humanitarian and pragmatic concerns (including fears of disorder) resulted in a series of interventionist policies. In this it was aided by a growth in missionary activity, with institutions being created for ‘famine-orphans.’ The assumption of new responsibilities resulted in the expansion of the state’s infrastructure which helped it derive legitimacy by being perceived as the ultimate repository of philanthropy. By the 1880s, popular perception saw the responsibility for famine relief having shifted clearly to the colonial state. However, the author also argues that while the state was forced into actions mitigating the most disruptive aspects of famines, it did not feel obliged to address its real causes, i.e. the problems of structural mass poverty. By the end of the nineteenth century, this became a key element in the critique of colonialism by early Indian nationalists wanting freedom from colonial rule.

This chapter first responds to the objection that the book's conclusions should be rejected on the grounds that they are counter-intuitive. The chapter then responds to the optimist and defends ...
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This chapter first responds to the objection that the book's conclusions should be rejected on the grounds that they are counter-intuitive. The chapter then responds to the optimist and defends pessimism. It is also argued that anti-natalism does not imply that death is never bad or that everybody ought to practice suicide. Nor are the conclusions of this book necessarily incompatible with religious views. Finally, it is argued that although there are excellent misanthropic reasons for not producing more people, the arguments in this book are philanthropic.Less

Conclusion

David Benatar

Published in print: 2006-10-12

This chapter first responds to the objection that the book's conclusions should be rejected on the grounds that they are counter-intuitive. The chapter then responds to the optimist and defends pessimism. It is also argued that anti-natalism does not imply that death is never bad or that everybody ought to practice suicide. Nor are the conclusions of this book necessarily incompatible with religious views. Finally, it is argued that although there are excellent misanthropic reasons for not producing more people, the arguments in this book are philanthropic.

Using the case study method, and an analogy with venture capital, this chapter explores the ethical and practical implications of high‐engagement philanthropy, or funder‐founder philanthropy. Among ...
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Using the case study method, and an analogy with venture capital, this chapter explores the ethical and practical implications of high‐engagement philanthropy, or funder‐founder philanthropy. Among the cases the chapter analyses in detail are the Nasher Sculpture Center and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation. Unlike venture capital, however, any losses associated with high‐engagement philanthropy accrue to people other than the original investors. It is argued that the test for determining the success of any particular foundation is how well it achieves its mission and how well it is integrated into the community over the long term.Less

The Funder as Founder : Ethical Considerations of the Philanthropic Creation of Nonprofit Organizations *

James Shulman

Published in print: 2011-01-13

Using the case study method, and an analogy with venture capital, this chapter explores the ethical and practical implications of high‐engagement philanthropy, or funder‐founder philanthropy. Among the cases the chapter analyses in detail are the Nasher Sculpture Center and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation. Unlike venture capital, however, any losses associated with high‐engagement philanthropy accrue to people other than the original investors. It is argued that the test for determining the success of any particular foundation is how well it achieves its mission and how well it is integrated into the community over the long term.

This introductory chapter provides the historical background to the rise of the Big Society, surveying the history of voluntarism over the last century. Politicians and commentators have long ...
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This introductory chapter provides the historical background to the rise of the Big Society, surveying the history of voluntarism over the last century. Politicians and commentators have long bemoaned the supposed decline of civic life, fretting about its health and its future. In fact, the real story of voluntarism over the last hundred years has not been decline, but constant evolution and change. Whether the terms charity, philanthropy, civil society, non-governmental organisations, the third sector or the Big Society are used, voluntary endeavour is one of the most vibrant and dynamic areas of British public life. Voluntarism not only continues to thrive, but is also far larger than any political agenda that may be imposed upon it.Less

The ages of voluntarism : An introduction

Matthew HiltonJames Mckay

Published in print: 2011-08-04

This introductory chapter provides the historical background to the rise of the Big Society, surveying the history of voluntarism over the last century. Politicians and commentators have long bemoaned the supposed decline of civic life, fretting about its health and its future. In fact, the real story of voluntarism over the last hundred years has not been decline, but constant evolution and change. Whether the terms charity, philanthropy, civil society, non-governmental organisations, the third sector or the Big Society are used, voluntary endeavour is one of the most vibrant and dynamic areas of British public life. Voluntarism not only continues to thrive, but is also far larger than any political agenda that may be imposed upon it.

By 1915, the half‐empty pews in the Portland church are a miniature of the big institutional picture. Efforts to bring in more men have had little effect, and many women have left for more empowering ...
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By 1915, the half‐empty pews in the Portland church are a miniature of the big institutional picture. Efforts to bring in more men have had little effect, and many women have left for more empowering alternatives: Christian Science, which offers the power to heal and the chance to lead Sunday services; the Post Office Mission, where letter‐writing allows them to preach and interpret their faith for appreciative audiences; and for those who aspire to pulpits but find them off limits, the suffrage crusade, which gives them a platform to lift up their gospel and prayers. Even ladies who distance themselves from political action eventually stage a revolt when it comes out that two of the men who have managed the funds of their pet philanthropy, The Home, have stolen vast sums. Converted, the women rewrite the bylaws, creating an all‐female board of trustees.Less

Talking Back and Taking Flight

Cynthia Grant Tucker

Published in print: 2010-05-26

By 1915, the half‐empty pews in the Portland church are a miniature of the big institutional picture. Efforts to bring in more men have had little effect, and many women have left for more empowering alternatives: Christian Science, which offers the power to heal and the chance to lead Sunday services; the Post Office Mission, where letter‐writing allows them to preach and interpret their faith for appreciative audiences; and for those who aspire to pulpits but find them off limits, the suffrage crusade, which gives them a platform to lift up their gospel and prayers. Even ladies who distance themselves from political action eventually stage a revolt when it comes out that two of the men who have managed the funds of their pet philanthropy, The Home, have stolen vast sums. Converted, the women rewrite the bylaws, creating an all‐female board of trustees.

The fourth century Christian sermons, letters, and poems of Basil, bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, his brother Gregory of Nyssa, and their friend Gregory of Nazianzus, provide one of the ...
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The fourth century Christian sermons, letters, and poems of Basil, bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, his brother Gregory of Nyssa, and their friend Gregory of Nazianzus, provide one of the best‐documented examples of early Christian responses to poverty. This book explores how these Cappadocian texts construct the body of the poor, socially and individually, in terms of hunger and starvation, economic penury, and medicine and disease. It especially considers three dominant themes: first, gift economics and patronage, especially in terms of liturgies (leitourgia); second, paidea and classical rhetoric; and third, Christian incarnation theology. Ch. 1 provides an overview of Greek, Roman, Jewish, and early Christian philanthropy. Ch. 2 examines Basil's famine relief efforts and the physiology of starvation, while Ch. 3 studies his sermons on economic poverty as they discuss debt, usury, and wealth. Ch. 4 considers Gregory of Nazianzus's and Gregory of Nyssa's three sermons on the homeless poor, particularly those sick with leprosy, sermons rich in social and medical images about disease, Christian incarnation, and healing. The book concludes with a consideration of Gregory of Nazianzus’ sermon addressing a potentially violent mob during an agricultural crisis, a sermon that brings together many of the themes discussed in previous chapters. An Appendix supplies provisional English translations of Basil of Caesarea's sermon “In time of famine and drought” and Gregory of Nyssa's two sermons “On the love of the poor.” The book argues that these Cappadocian texts provide a vital witness to the christianization process of late antiquity which appropriated the poor into civic and religious liturgies, thereby giving them a newly defined identity and gaining episcopal power over their social and physical body. The themes embodied in these texts continue to influence moral and social ethics, philanthropy, and the Christian theology of incarnation in modern religious practice.Less

The Hungry are Dying : Beggars and Bishops in Roman Cappadocia

Susan R. Holman

Published in print: 2001-08-09

The fourth century Christian sermons, letters, and poems of Basil, bishop of Caesarea in Cappadocia, his brother Gregory of Nyssa, and their friend Gregory of Nazianzus, provide one of the best‐documented examples of early Christian responses to poverty. This book explores how these Cappadocian texts construct the body of the poor, socially and individually, in terms of hunger and starvation, economic penury, and medicine and disease. It especially considers three dominant themes: first, gift economics and patronage, especially in terms of liturgies (leitourgia); second, paidea and classical rhetoric; and third, Christian incarnation theology. Ch. 1 provides an overview of Greek, Roman, Jewish, and early Christian philanthropy. Ch. 2 examines Basil's famine relief efforts and the physiology of starvation, while Ch. 3 studies his sermons on economic poverty as they discuss debt, usury, and wealth. Ch. 4 considers Gregory of Nazianzus's and Gregory of Nyssa's three sermons on the homeless poor, particularly those sick with leprosy, sermons rich in social and medical images about disease, Christian incarnation, and healing. The book concludes with a consideration of Gregory of Nazianzus’ sermon addressing a potentially violent mob during an agricultural crisis, a sermon that brings together many of the themes discussed in previous chapters. An Appendix supplies provisional English translations of Basil of Caesarea's sermon “In time of famine and drought” and Gregory of Nyssa's two sermons “On the love of the poor.” The book argues that these Cappadocian texts provide a vital witness to the christianization process of late antiquity which appropriated the poor into civic and religious liturgies, thereby giving them a newly defined identity and gaining episcopal power over their social and physical body. The themes embodied in these texts continue to influence moral and social ethics, philanthropy, and the Christian theology of incarnation in modern religious practice.

This chapter explores the paradigm of “sharing the world” with a focus on modern models of giving, divestment, and hospitality. Those who live in the modern West are often faced with an ...
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This chapter explores the paradigm of “sharing the world” with a focus on modern models of giving, divestment, and hospitality. Those who live in the modern West are often faced with an overwhelming variety of charitable and philanthropic options and opportunities to engage in relief and religious responses to poverty and need. Without advising any one particular path of response, the chapter here explores the challenges that face those who desire to make lifestyle decisions that are appropriate to one's personal situations. Drawing from personal narrative, Catholic social thought on “the common good,” the modern ideology of human rights, and early Christian canons on how to treat the poor and needy, this chapter offers images for a refreshed view of sharing the world.Less

Living Crunchy and Doing Right(s)

Susan R. Holman

Published in print: 2009-06-04

This chapter explores the paradigm of “sharing the world” with a focus on modern models of giving, divestment, and hospitality. Those who live in the modern West are often faced with an overwhelming variety of charitable and philanthropic options and opportunities to engage in relief and religious responses to poverty and need. Without advising any one particular path of response, the chapter here explores the challenges that face those who desire to make lifestyle decisions that are appropriate to one's personal situations. Drawing from personal narrative, Catholic social thought on “the common good,” the modern ideology of human rights, and early Christian canons on how to treat the poor and needy, this chapter offers images for a refreshed view of sharing the world.

This book examines the interplay between entrepreneurship and philanthropy, on the one hand, and wealth creation and opportunity, on the other. Using historical and institutional evidence, it traces ...
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This book examines the interplay between entrepreneurship and philanthropy, on the one hand, and wealth creation and opportunity, on the other. Using historical and institutional evidence, it traces the story of American philanthropy through the centuries. It shows that many philanthropists had humble beginnings, worked hard to make something of themselves, and later used their money to help improve the world. It also demonstrates how most Americans, wealthy and otherwise, historically have exemplified an unstated principle that lies at the heart of American-style capitalism: that those who amass wealth must continually create opportunities by investing in society. The book makes a distinction between philanthropy and charity and argues that philanthropy has the potential to mitigate inequalities as it softens the hard edges of the free market. Finally, it describes philanthropy as consistent with the self-made American values of individual freedom.Less

A conversation

Zoltan J. Acs

Published in print: 2013-02-24

This book examines the interplay between entrepreneurship and philanthropy, on the one hand, and wealth creation and opportunity, on the other. Using historical and institutional evidence, it traces the story of American philanthropy through the centuries. It shows that many philanthropists had humble beginnings, worked hard to make something of themselves, and later used their money to help improve the world. It also demonstrates how most Americans, wealthy and otherwise, historically have exemplified an unstated principle that lies at the heart of American-style capitalism: that those who amass wealth must continually create opportunities by investing in society. The book makes a distinction between philanthropy and charity and argues that philanthropy has the potential to mitigate inequalities as it softens the hard edges of the free market. Finally, it describes philanthropy as consistent with the self-made American values of individual freedom.

This chapter traces the history of philanthropy and shows the extent to which it is woven into the very fabric of the American entrepreneurial experiment. In order to understand philanthropy as a ...
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This chapter traces the history of philanthropy and shows the extent to which it is woven into the very fabric of the American entrepreneurial experiment. In order to understand philanthropy as a viable system for recycling wealth and creating opportunity, it is worth probing the dynamics that have sustained philanthropic giving and the conditions under which it has prospered and wavered. After providing a historical background on philanthropy in the United States, the chapter considers the Giving Pledge, an idea put forth by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett that commits billionaires to give away one-half of their wealth in their lifetimes. It then looks at the origins of American generosity, along with volunteerism, associations, and self-reliance. It also discusses mass philanthropy, the welfare state and the persistence of philanthropy, political philanthropy, and the rationale behind philanthropy and charity.Less

Charity and Philanthropy

Zoltan J. Acs

Published in print: 2013-02-24

This chapter traces the history of philanthropy and shows the extent to which it is woven into the very fabric of the American entrepreneurial experiment. In order to understand philanthropy as a viable system for recycling wealth and creating opportunity, it is worth probing the dynamics that have sustained philanthropic giving and the conditions under which it has prospered and wavered. After providing a historical background on philanthropy in the United States, the chapter considers the Giving Pledge, an idea put forth by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett that commits billionaires to give away one-half of their wealth in their lifetimes. It then looks at the origins of American generosity, along with volunteerism, associations, and self-reliance. It also discusses mass philanthropy, the welfare state and the persistence of philanthropy, political philanthropy, and the rationale behind philanthropy and charity.

This chapter examines American-style capitalism from the perspective of the currents of prosperity, and how philanthropy became a part of American-style capitalism. American philanthropists ...
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This chapter examines American-style capitalism from the perspective of the currents of prosperity, and how philanthropy became a part of American-style capitalism. American philanthropists presumably value a strong capitalist system because it is the system that nurtured their individual success. Thus, they seem to recognize that the strength of American capitalism resides neither in the size or influence of an industry or a set of firms nor in a country's GDP. Rather, as philanthropists have put it, the strength of capitalism is measured in a more aspirational way. The chapter first provides an overview of changes in American capitalism and the rise of a new Gilded Age economy before discussing the role of universities in sustaining a society that valued learning, innovation, and competition. It also considers the estate tax as a policy that could strengthen the relationship between entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and opportunity in America.Less

American-Style Capitalism

Zoltan J. Acs

Published in print: 2013-02-24

This chapter examines American-style capitalism from the perspective of the currents of prosperity, and how philanthropy became a part of American-style capitalism. American philanthropists presumably value a strong capitalist system because it is the system that nurtured their individual success. Thus, they seem to recognize that the strength of American capitalism resides neither in the size or influence of an industry or a set of firms nor in a country's GDP. Rather, as philanthropists have put it, the strength of capitalism is measured in a more aspirational way. The chapter first provides an overview of changes in American capitalism and the rise of a new Gilded Age economy before discussing the role of universities in sustaining a society that valued learning, innovation, and competition. It also considers the estate tax as a policy that could strengthen the relationship between entrepreneurship, philanthropy, and opportunity in America.